This month marks the 125 anniversary of the brassiere. In honor of them, I offer this little history lesson: The history of brassieres is inextricably intertwined with the social history of the status of women, including the evolution of fashion and changing views of the female body. Women have used a variety of garments and devices to cover, restrain, reveal, or modify the appearance of breasts. From the 14th century onwards, the undergarments of wealthier women in the West were dominated by the corset, which pushed the breasts upwards. In the latter part of the 19th century, various alternatives were experimented with, splitting the corset into a girdle-like restraining device for the lower torso, and transferring the upper part to devices suspended from the shoulder. In the late 19th century, bras replaced the corset as the most widely used means of breast support. According to Life magazine, in 1889 Herminie Cadolle of France invented the first modern bra. By the early 20th century, garments more closely resembling contemporary bras had emerged, although large-scale commercial production did not occur till the 1930s. Since then bras have replaced corsets (although some women prefer camisoles) and a minority go without. During the 20th century, greater emphasis has been given to the fashion aspects of brassieres. Brassiere manufacture is a multi-billion-dollar industry dominated by large multinational corporations. I think we can all join together to say, Thanks for your support!
Posted on: Wed, 21 May 2014 11:00:00 +0000
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